Chapter 2918: A Suspicious Guest
"Is that Fire Marquis Liu?" A man sitting on another table nearby whispered, pointing toward a stout man with crimson robes and a flame-shaped jade ornament in his hair.
"And thereâs Lady Qinglan of the Azure Wind Pavilion. Sheâs been refining pills that can regrow severed limbs," the manâs companion added, impressed.
The lights dimmed slightly as a gong sounded, and the man in golden armor stepped forward onto the stage.
"Honored guests," he began, his voice carrying effortlessly through the courtyard, "we welcome you to the Golden Pearl Courtyard, the heart of Golden Scales City. Tonight is not just a celebration of trade and unity, but of resilience in the face of darkness. Let us raise our cups to prosperity, collaboration, and to those who safeguard our lands."
A resounding cheer echoed through the courtyard, and the cups were raised.
"To prosperity!"
"To unity!"
"To wine!" Daoist Chu added cheerfully.
As music resumed, the festivities rolled onâdancers twirled in radiant silks, musicians played zither and flute in harmony, and servers moved about gracefully with replenished trays of food and drink.
Lin Mu remained calm, but his senses were alert. There were too many powerful people here for it to be just a coincidence. Something deeper was going on beneath the gold-plated pleasantries.
Still, for the moment, he sat back, sipped his wine, and listened.
"I wonder what theyâll do for entertainment next," Meng Bai said.
"I vote for fireworks," Little Shrubby replied, licking frosting off his claws.
The banquetâs atmosphere grew livelier with every passing minute. Conversations swirled like clouds, laughter rippled between tables, and the scent of spirit wine and exotic delicacies danced in the air. On stage, a group of dancers began a routine inspired by the mythical Crane Phoenix, their flowing sleeves illuminated by shifting spirit lights.
Then the music stopped.
Not abruptlyâbut with the precise, deliberate fade of a zither string pulled taut and plucked one final time.
All heads turned toward the courtyardâs eastern gate as a ripple of energy swept across the hall. It wasnât loud, nor overtly threatening, but every cultivator present felt itâthe soft, pressing weight of an aura too refined to ignore.
The tall doors opened.
Through them stepped a figure dressed in black and gold, his robes embroidered with a complex web of interlocking eyes. His face was sharp, elegant, and pale as porcelain, with eyes like still obsidian. A thin smile graced his lips as he walked, flanked by six followers in dark armor, each bearing a silver mask and a curved blade.
"Whoâs that?" Meng Bai whispered.
Daoist Chu leaned in slightly, squinting. "Huh. I donât recognize him."
The murmuring spread quickly as the newcomer approached the central table, nodding politely at the host from the Golden Scales Merchant Union.
"Elder Mingshi," the host greeted with a respectful bow. "We are honored by your presence."
"I received your invitation and thought to visit," the man replied, his voice smooth as polished jade. "It has been some time since Iâve witnessed such... social activity."
Whispers followed him like a tide.
"Elder Mingshi? From the Hollow Eye Sect?"
"Isnât that the group that rarely leaves their territories in the Shadow Whisper Valley?"
"I thought theyâd gone into seclusion decades ago..."
Daoist Chuâs brow furrowed. "Now thatâs suspicious."
Lin Mu was already watching with sharp interest. He hadnât heard of the Hollow Eye Sect, but the symbols embroidered on the robes sent a shiver down his spine. Interlocking eyes... thorns... roots? It was too close to what heâd seen on the corrupted cultivators.
Elder Mingshi turned, as if sensing the attention, and for a brief moment, his gaze locked with Lin Muâs.
The smile deepenedâonly by a fractionâbut it carried weight.
Lin Mu did not look away.
Before the tension could thicken, a boisterous voice broke the air.
"Ho! Didnât expect to see the Hollow Eye freaks slithering out of their hole."
The speaker was a bulky man seated at one of the mid-tier noble tables, his cheeks already flushed with wine. He wore a burnt orange robe with a sword-shaped brooch at his collar, the emblem of the Vermillion Blade Clan.
"Watch your words," one of Mingshiâs masked guards growled, stepping forward.
The noble stood up, clearly drunk but not lacking in confidence. "Oh, Iâm sorry, did I insult your cult of creepy peepers? My mistake!"
The hall fell into an uneasy hush.
Elder Mingshi raised a single hand. His followers stopped immediately.
"We of the Hollow Eye Sect harbor no ill will tonight," he said, addressing the hall with a slight bow. "This is a celebration, after all. We would not dare ruin such... merriment."
The noble snorted and sat back down, but Lin Mu could see his hand twitching near the hilt of his saber.
Daoist Chu muttered, "I donât like this. That Elderâs aura is too stable. Itâs like it doesnât even fluctuate."
Lin Mu nodded slowly. "His presence feels... wrong. Artificial, maybe."
As if on cue, Elder Mingshi turned back toward them and began walking in their direction, casual, unhurried.
"Brace yourselves," Lin Mu said quietly, placing his wine cup down.
But instead of aggression, Mingshi merely approached their table with a diplomatic smile.
"You must be Lin Mu," he said.
Lin Mu rose from his seat. "I am." He wa a bit surprised that the man seemed to know him.
âDoes he know me from the shopping district, or... someplace else?â He wondered with suspicion.
"Ah. Iâve heard much about you. The one who cleansed the corrupted cultivators in the Lotus Prefecture."
"I didnât realize the Hollow Eye Sect took such an interest in outside affairs." Lin Mu first said, feeling a bit alarmed. âAnd they know me from not here but the Lotus Prefecture?â he now knew for sure his suspicion was right.
"Oh, we see many things, even when others do not," Mingshi replied. "Weâve been... watching certain patterns. Energy shifts. Aberrations in qi."
"And you think Iâm one of them?" Lin Mu asked calmly.
Mingshi chuckled. "Not at all. You are merely a variable worth watching. Perhaps even... understanding."
Lin Mu didnât flinch. "Then keep watching."